checkmate

have you ever wondered
in this global game of chess
if you are queen, or rook, or pawn?
certainly i have and i guess --
i know the truth --
at every rising dawn

this morning i surmised
the dawn looks different
to those who daily choose to live

one beautiful october
i walked along a path --
the leaves were turning
the fall was burning there,
falling delicately piece by piece

and soon i saw a stranger
who walked along the other way
until we met, he barely paused, and passed
(but he smiled, i remember)
and traced the steps that i just took
along the yellow path
but i doubted
these paths will ever cross again
so with a weary look ahead,
i took a fragile step into the cold november